Handling mechanism for washers



y 8, 1934- c. L. BRACKETT 1,958,179

HANDLING MECHANISM FOR WASHERS Filed Feb. 21, 1951 INVEN T R LHRE L ,BRACKETT Patented May 8, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE HANDLING MECHANISM FOR WASHERS Application February 21, 1931, Serial No. 517,576

12 Claims.

Briefly stated, one of the attributes of the invention resides in a novel washer receiving hopper and magazine assembly in which entanglement of the washers is avoided by bringing the washers into edge to edge relation with the split ends of contiguous washers held against interlooking so that the washers thus arranged may later be handled individually.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved washer handling mechanism, parts being broken away to illustrate the washers arranged in edge to edge relation with the split ends of contiguous washers held apart to avoid entanglement of the washers,

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view illustrating the means by which the washers are transferred individually and separately from the magazine therefor to a coupling mechanism,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional perspective of the washer hopper,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the washer hopper shown in Figure 1, parts being in section.

The drawing illustrates a Washer hopper and magazine arrangement by which the washers are arranged on edge with the split ends of contiguous washers held against entanglement to allow of the individual and expeditious feeding of the washers to coupling mechanism. The hopper is fully open at the top and embodies complemental more or less similarly formed sections having the adjacent edge portions thereof provided with generously proportioned flanges 32 joined by fastening devices 34 of any suitable nature.

Figures 1 and 3 illustrate that a combined spacing and guide plate 36 is located between what might be said to be the forward portions of the flanges 32 to space the complemental sections as of the hopper and thereby cooperate with the adjacent portions of these flanges in the formation of an arcuate channel 40 adapted for the partial reception of split helical washers. Figure 1 illustrates that the upper edge of the combined 0 spacing and guide member 36 forms the bottom wall of the washer conducting channel 40 and is located a suflicient distance outward of or below the inner edges of the flanges 32 to provide a channel depth less than the outside diameters of the washers being handled.

Figure 3 illustrates that although the washer receiving channel 40 has sufficient width to freely receive the unbroken portions of the washers, the same is sufliciently narrow to support the washers on edge. Since the washer receiving channel 40 is only wide enough to receive the unbroken portions of the split washers and is of a depth less than the outside diameters of the washers, the split ends of the washers are caused to remain exteriorly of the channel. By this arrangement, the ends of continguous washers are held apart so that entanglement of the Washers, when arranged on edge and in line, is avoided. Figures 1 and 3 also disclose that the bot tom walls of the hopper sections converge and dip toward the channel 40 to facilitate the entrance of washers on edge into the channel.

Referring now to the washer feeding means associated with the hopper, attention is invited to Figures 1 and 4 illustrating that a rotatable washer feeding wheel or element 44 is positioned within the hopper and is provided with a plurality of spoke-like arms adapted to successively travel through the arcuate channel 40 to ad-- Vance the washers therein. As viewed in Figure 1, the washer feeding element 44 turns in a counterclockwise direction to advance the washers in the direction of the elevated end of the channel.

Figures 1 and 4 illustrate that the washer feeding wheel 44 is movable between a pair of more or less similarly formed guard plates or members 46 increasing in radii in the direction of rotation of the wheel and meeting the portions of the flanges 32 at the approach end of the channel 40 so that the spokes of the washer feeding wheel are guarded against interference by the washers in the hopper. As might otherwise be expressed, the guards 46 are provided with pendent portions merging into or formed integral with the flanges 32, In this manner, the washers in the hopper are prevented from collecting between the inlet end of the channel 40 and the approaching spokes of the washer feeder 44. Clearly, if washers were allowed to collect between the inlet end of the channel 40 and the approaching spokes of the washer feeder, interference with the operation of the feeder would occur. Thus it is, that the spokes of the washer feeder 44 have a constantly open avenue of approach and entrance to the channel 40, and as the spokes of the washer feeder move through the channel, the washers encountered therein are propelled on edge over the elevated end of the channel and into the associated magazine.

As shown in Figure 3, the washer magazine 50 is in the nature of a longitudinally channeled vertically arranged member having constant communication with the elevated end portion of the channel 40 to freely receive washers therefrom. The upper portions of the side walls of the channeled member are shown in Figure 3 to be curved and extended about the elevated portion of the combined spacing and guide plate 36 to cooperate with the flanges 32 in forming the side walls of the channel. The washer conducting channel through the member 50 is of approximately the same depth and width as the channel 40 to hold the washers in edge to edge relation with the split ends of continguous washers held apart and thus against entanglement. A guard 52 of angle iron or the like is extended over the channel in the member 50 to hold the washers in place in the magazine.

Immediately above the point of transfer of the washers from the hopper 30 to the magazine and between the adjacent portions of the spaced flanges 32, there is a spill wheel having. peripheral knobs or other means to engage surplus washers and return the same to the hopper. The spill wheel 60 is mounted on a shaft 61 extended through the flanges 32 and having connection with what might be said to be a main drive shaft 62 through a motion transmitting mechanism 63 of any character. It is believed to be clear that the spill wheel 60 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 so that the washers that would otherwise crowd at the point of transfer of the washers from the hopper to the magazine are returned to the hopper for subsequent handling.

Referring now to the means by which the washers are transferred individually from the magazine to the coupling mechanism, attention is invited to Figures 1 and 2 in which it is illustrated that the lower portion of the magazine is intersected intermittently by a longitudinally movable plunger which, during the advance thereof, moves the contiguous washer from the magazine onto the washer seat of the coupling mechanism to be described. The plunger '70 has connection with one branch or arm of a bell crank '72 while the other branch of the bell crank is provided with a roller riding on a cam 74. Rotation of the cam '74 intermittently rocks the bell crank 72. and consequently retracts the plunger 70 and when the bell crank is released, the contractile coil spring '75 attached to the plunger serves to advance the plunger and thereby bring about the transfer of an individual washer from the magazine tothe coupling mechanism. The cam '74 is mounted on the main drive shaft 62.

In Figure 1 there is a suggestion of a hopper adapted for the reception of headed fasteners to be later coupled to the washers. The hopper 80 has a spider or Wheel rotatable therein to advance the headed fasteners and a guard arrangement 92 may be associated with the wheel 90;

In carrying out the invention the hopper 80 is carried by a support 202 adjustably secured to a platform or other base member by attaching elements 204 of any suitable nature.

By way of further brief reference to the handling mechanism for the headed fasteners, it is pointed out that the headed fasteners are transferred from the hopper 80 to a coupling means 110, through the intervention of a magazine 88. Thecoupling mechanism 110 is shown to be provided with a plurality of plungers or supports 112 adapted to first receive the washers and then to receive the headed fasteners in a manner which couples these parts. The coupling means 110 is provided with a motion transmitting mechanism 182 connected to the drive shaft 62 in any suitable manner, and at the same time, the support so or shaft for the motion transmitting mechanism 182 may be operatively connected to the shaft 192. A chain or other driving means 194 may be employed to establish an operative connection be tween the shaft 192 and the wheel 44. Also, a chain or other motion transmitting means 195 may be employed to establish an operative connection between the motion transmitting shaft 192 and the wheel 90.

I claim:

1. In a handling mechanism for split helical washers, a hopper having a channel of a depth less than the outside diameter of the washers being handled and of a width to receive only the unbroken portions of the washers whereby the split ends of the washers are excluded from the channel, and a feeding device movable through the channel to advance the washers on edge therein.

2. In a handling mechanism for split helical washers, a hopper having a channel of a depth less than the outside diameter of the washers being handled and of a width to receive only the unbroken portions of the washers whereby the split ends of the washers are excluded from the channel, a feeding device movable through the channel to advance the washers on edge therein, and means located at the approach end of said channel to protect said feeding device from interference by the washers in the hopper.

3. In a mechanism for handling split helical washers, a hopper consisting of sections having spaced side walls and a combination spacing and guiding member between said side walls and cooperating therewith in the formation of a channel of a depth less than the width of the washers being handled and of a width only slightly greater than the thickness of the material forming the washers so that the channel will receive only the unbroken portions of the washers leaving the split ends of the washers exteriorly of the channel, and a rotary feeding element having impelling members movable through said channel to advance the washers therein.

4. In a mechanism for handling split helical washers, a magazine having a washer receiving groove of a depth less than the outside diameter of the washers being handled and a width only slightly greater than the thickness of the material forming the washers to hold the washers on edge, the said dimensions of the groove allowing 130 only the unbroken portions of the washers to extend into the groove while causing the split ends of the washers to remain exteriorly of the groove,

a retaining element holding the washers in. the groove and embodying a member intersecting 135 the plane of the groove in spaced relation to the groove, and a washer feeding hopper having constant communication with the magazine and having means to furnish washers in edge to edge relation to the magazine.

5. In a handling mechanism for split helical washers, a member having a channel of a width great enough to receive only unbroken portions of the washers being handled and less than the outside axial dimensions of the helical washers 145 at the split adjacent ends thereof thereby excluding from the channels such adjacent ends of the washers.

6. In a handling mechanism for split helical washers, a member having a channel of a width 150 great enough to receive only the unbroken portions of the helical washers being handled and less than the outside axial dimensions of the helical washers at the split adjacent ends thereof thereby excluding from the channels such adjacent ends of the washers, said channel having a washer receiving portion of a depth less than the diameters of the washers being handled.

7. In a handling mechanism for split helical washers, a member having a channel of a width great enough to receive only the unbroken portions of the helical washers being handled and less than the outside axial dimensions of the helical washers at the split adjacent ends thereof thereby excluding from the channels such adjacent ends of the washers, said channel having a washer receiving portion of a depth less than the diameters of the washers being handled, and means to move the washers on edge through the channel.

8. In a handling mechanism for split helical washers, a member having a channel of a width great enough to receive only unbroken portions of the helical washers being handled and less than the outside axial dimensions of the helical Washers at the split adjacent ends thereof thereby excluding from the channels such adjacent ends of the washers, and a rotary element to move the washers on edge through said channel.

9. In a handling mechanism for split helical washers, a member having a channel of a width great enough to receive only unbroken portions of the helical washers being handled and less than the outside axial dimensions of the helical washers at the split adjacent ends thereof thereby excluding from the channels such adjacent ends of the washers, a rotary element to move the washers on edge through said channel, and a guard excluding washers from the approach end of said channel to protect the rotary element from interference by the washers.

10. In a mechanism for handling split helical washers, a hopper consisting of sections and an intervening spacing and guiding member between said sections and cooperating therewith in the formation of a channel for the reception of portions of split helical washers, said channel being of a width great enough to freely receive only the unbroken portions of said split helical washers being handled and less than the outside axial dimensions of the helical washers at the split adjacent ends thereof thereby excluding from the channels such adjacent ends of the washers.

11. In a mechanism for handling split helical washers, a magazine having a washer receiving groove of a width sulficient to receive only the unbroken portions of the helical washers being handled and less than the outside axial dimen: sions of the helical washers at the split ends thereof thereby excluding from the groove such ends of the Washers.

12. In a mechanism for handling split helical washers, a magazine having a washer receiving portion of a width to freely receive only the unbroken portions of the helical washers on edge and less than the outside axial dimensions of the washers at the split ends thereof thereby excluding from the channels such adjacent ends of the washers, and a washer feeding means communicating with the magazine and having means to furnish washers in edge to edge relation to the magazine.

CLARE L. BRACKETT. 

